Garcia'sSeven Valley locations
Cinco de Mayo will bring live music, free kids meals with additional purchase, and other food and drink specials at local Garcia's restaurants. Call 602-866-1850.

Hula's Modern Tiki4700 N. Central Ave.www.hulasmoderntiki.com
Partake in a south-of-the-border fiesta (by way of the south seas) during the "Cinco de Tiki" party on Sunday, May 5. Enjoy drink specials and two-for-one fish tacos all day long, as well as two-for-one Lilikoi Margaritas starting at 7 p.m. Opens at 10:30 a.m. Call 602-265-8454.

La Piñata3330 N. 19th Ave.
Specials will be offered throughout the weekend and Jesus Soto will perform in the lounge nightly starting at 4 p.m. from Friday, May 3, to Sunday, May 5. Call 602-279-1763.

Kongos are scheduled to perform on Sunday, May 5, at Dos Gringos in Scottsdale.

Rome Ramirez of Sublime with Rome is scheduled to perform on Sunday, May 5, at Dos Gringos in Scottsdale.

Las Glorias7835 N. 19th Ave.
Sup on $1.50 tacos (available with beef, fish, or shrimp) while sipping 99-cent margaritas, both of which will be available from Friday, May 3, through Sunday, May 5. Call 602-944-8457.

Los Compadres2350 W. Northern Ave.www.loscompadresaz.com
Partake in live jazz from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, as well as dining and drink specials, door prizes, and the chance to get your picture with the "Most Interesting Man in the World" all weekend long. A drawing takes place on Sunday, May 5, for the best picture. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. both days. Call 602-864-0043.

Los Dos Molinos4025 E. Chandler Blvd.
The Ahwatukee location of this Mexican restaurant chain will host a "Cinco de Maya" party on Sunday, May 5, with live music from Bretheren Sol at 3 p.m., Freddie Duran at 5 p.m., and Western Electrics at 7:30 p.m. Opens at 11 a.m. Call 480-706-1066.

Los Sombreros2534 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdalewww.lossombreros.com
Quench your thirst with $5 red and white sangria or a $5 Azul margaritas with fresh lime on Sunday, May 5. A variety of $5 specialty martinis will also be available in such flavors as strawberry, mango, and vanilla. Open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call 480-994-1799.

Mucho Gusto603 W. University Dr., Tempe
Specials and entertainment will be offered all day on Sunday, May 5. Call 480-921-1850.

Salsa y Mas1003 E. Indian School Rd.
The eatery will hold a "Grand Opening Block Party" on Saturday, May 4, with live mariachi and banda acts, DJ spin sessions, and a bouncy castle for the young ones (or the young at heart). Food and drinks specials like $1.50 tacos, $3 Mexican hot dogs, $1.50 Coronitas, and $3 you-call-its can also be had. The Mayweather/Guerrero boxing pay-per-view will also screen at 7 p.m. on 10 HD screens throughout the restaurant. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Call 602-279-0417.

Sandbar Mexican Grill21001 N. Tatum Blvd.9868 W. Northern Ave., Peoria7200 W. Ray Rd., Chandler
All three Sandbar locations in the Valley will host two-day "Cinco de Sandbar" parties on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, each featuring ample amounts of food and drink, live music and entertainment, giveaways, and the chance to catch both the Kentucky Derby and the Floyd Mayweather/Robert Guerrero boxing match. Opens at 11 a.m. both days. Call 480-961-1700 or 623-877-6444.

San Felipe's Cantina2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe
Partake in margarita, big party drinks, and live music during San Felipe's "Dos Dias De Mayo" on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5. Call 480-736-8226.

Valle Luna Mexican Restaurants3336 W. Bell Roadwww.valleluna.com
Two huge Cinco celebrations will take place both inside the restaurant and in the parking lot throughout the weekend. On Saturday, May 4, the "Cuatro De Mayo" affair will transpire and offer a DJ and dancing from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free. Then, on Sunday, May 5, Valle Luna will throw a big bash with games, trivia contests, scavenger hunts, live music from Whisker Biskit, an outdoor street taco grill, and various drink specials. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., $5. Call 602-993-3108.

Bars & Clubs

Cadillac Ranch2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe
The Cinco de Rancho party will be raging all day on both Saturday, May 4, to Sunday, May 5, and will feature DJs, cover bands, and more. Specials include half-priced 22-ounce skinny Beergaritas, $3 well tequila shots, and $3 Dos Equis lager and amber drafts. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Call 480-894-1111.

Chopper Johns2547 E. Indian School Roadwww.chopperjohns.com
Live music from the Jaime Waldronez Trio on Saturday, May 4, and Cinco de Mayo drink specials all weekend. Call 602-955-0881.

Club Silver136 E. Washington St.
Pre-Cinco de Mayo Bash on Saturday, May 4, with hot spins from DJ S and DJ OD, $3 you-call-its until 11 p.m., and more. 9 p.m.

Dos Gringos Scottsdale4209 N. Craftsman Court, Scottsdalewww.dosgringosaz.com
The Scottsdale day-drinking crowd will likely turn out in droves for the bar's "Cinco de Mayo Block Banger" on Sunday, May 5, as the event will offer a potent mix of bands, bars, and booze starting at 1 p.m. Portions of Craftsman Court will be cordoned off for the event and its enormous stage featuring music from Rome Ramirez (of Sublime with Rome fame), Kongos, Seedless, The VeraGroove, Valley Love, Through the Roots, and RAC. Drummer/DJ trio The Wednesday Machine, featuring Switch and Blue Collar Profit, will host the party, which will benefit PeppedUp!, a local cancer charity. Admission is $8. Call 480-423-3800 or see cincodemayodosgringos.eventbrite.com.

"In Mexico today, Cinco
de Mayo means the Mexican army defeated the French army," he continued.
"In California and Oregon, the news was interpreted as finally that the
army of freedom and democracy won a big one against the army of slavery
and elitism. And the fact that those two armies had to meet in Mexico
was immaterial because they were fighting for the same issues --
defending freedom and democracy. Latinos were joining the Union army,
Union cavalry, Union navy.

"The French goal was to
eliminate democracy, and remember that Mexico had democracy only for 30
or 40 years at that point," he added. "Remember, Europe was ruled mostly
by monarchs."

French emperor Napoleon
III "was no friend of the Union and was definitely a friend of the
Confederacy and flirted with the Confederacy constantly with the
possible recognition of the Confederate government," Hayes-Bautista
said. President Abraham Lincoln never referred to the Confederacy as a
separate government: they were states in rebellion," the professor said.

Napoleon III's plan was
to instill a monarchy over Mexico and "have that monarch cooperate with
the Confederacy," Hayes-Bautista said.